Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jun 2008
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2008 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Liz Evans
Note: Liz Evans is a nurse and the executive director of the PHS 
Community Services Society, which operates Insite.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/insite (Insite)

THE TORIES DON'T UNDERSTAND HARM REDUCTION

I am trained as a nurse, not a lobbyist. So perhaps I was naive to 
think that when I was invited last week to address the House of 
Commons health committee (along with a team of health and policy 
experts from Vancouver), Stephen Harper's government would listen to 
the facts about Insite, North America's first supervised 
drug-injection site. Instead, we were lectured by federal Health 
Minister Tony Clement about how those supporting Insite were 
misguided ideologues -- a position Mr. Clement amplified in his 
recent National Post column ("A better way to treat addicts," May 
30). Apparently, Messrs. Clement and Harper really care about drug 
addiction, whereas medical professionals such as myself are the ones 
who endorse suffering.

I wanted to weep at the implications of our government's collective 
ignorance. The committee offered statement after statement that was 
plain wrong. It was a huge affront to the legions of researchers, 
public health officials, medical scientists, nurses, doctors and 
representatives of international bodies (such as the United Nations 
and the World Health Organization) who have long endorsed 
harm-reduction strategies as essential to assisting those with drug addictions.

The politicians didn't have to listen to me. But what about listening 
to one of the world's most renowned doctors and researchers in the 
treatment of HIV/AIDS? Or the federally funded researcher who has 
produced more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific papers? What about the 
officer from the Vancouver Police Department who explained that

Insite and local police work together to limit public disorder? What 
about B. C.'s Premier and Minister of Health, or Vancouver's Mayor 
and Chief of police?

When first questioned about Insite in the spring of 2006, the Prime 
Minister said he would wait for the RCMP to study the matter before 
commenting. But when the RCMP's results on Insite came in, they 
weren't released because they were seen as too positive. Last year, 
Stephen Harper's politically appointed expert advisory committee 
concluded that Insite causes no adverse affect on drug use or crime, 
that it acts as a deterrent to drug use, and that Insite encourages 
users to seek detox and treatment. More than half of the police 
officers interviewed thought Insite should remain open.

In his recent decision supporting Insite, Judge Ian Pitfield of the 
B. C. Supreme Court demonstrated his understanding of a principle 
that Mr. Harper seems incapable of grasping: Addiction is a complex, 
chronic and relapsing disease. Justice Pitfield's ruling recognizes 
that Insite's program deserves protection under the Charter of Rights 
and Freedoms. He recognizes the facility's essential role as a 
primary health care facility and a necessary treatment access point 
for people who are clearly sick.

The fact that Stephen Harper wants to appeal Judge Pitfield's 
decision shows he is continuing to ignore the evidence. The Harper 
government is displaying arrogance in the face of an issue its 
ministers clearly do not understand.

- -Liz Evans is a nurse and the executive director of the PHS Community 
Services Society, which operates Insite.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom